Combination tile and liquid dispenser



y 1958 F. ERZEN 7 2,834,518

COMBINATION TILE AND LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb. 21, 1957 INVENTOR.

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United Patent 2,834,518 COMBINATION TILE AND LIQUID DISPENSER Frances Erzen, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application February 21, 1957, Serial No. 641,570 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-193) This invention relates to a liquid dispensing device and, more particularly, to the combination of a tile and a liquid dispenser for soaps, perfumes and the like for concealment and detachable mounting within the wall of a bathroom.

An outstanding disadvantage of conventional types of soap and perfume dispensers found in bathrooms, public rest rooms, etc. is that they usually project from the wall and constitute unsightly as well as dangerous obstructions. Moreover, they are often complicated and expensive in construction.

While attempts have been made to partially conceal liquid dispensing systems, such systems involve permanent connections and pipes which must be built into the wall at the time the wall is constructed, furthermore they are not readily detachable or removable nor compact.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel liquid dispensing unit which may be detachably concealed within a small opening in a bathroom wall and which is devoid of any unsightly or dangerous projections, thereby not detracting from the appearance of the wall.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel combination of a tile and a liquid dispensing unit which will form an assembly that may be removably inserted into a hollow portion of the wall behind the tile with no parts projecting outwardly of the tile other than the actuating plunger and outlet nozzle. Preferably, the assembly is mounted adjacent the water faucets in a bathtub or shower stall.

A further object of my invention is to provide a liquid dispensing assembly of compact and inexpensive construction embodying a novel arrangement of parts which make the unit easily accessible for refilling with liquid as well as easy to operate, and the entire unit being mounted on the rear surface of a tile to permit total enclosure and concealment within a bathroom wall.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description when taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a tile having mounted thereon a liquid dispensing unit in accordance with the principles of the present invention Figure 2 is a rear view of the unit shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 1 and Figure 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of a tiled wall, such as a bathroom wall, showing the unit illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 as being partially removed from the wall to more clearly reveal the outlines thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a tile of plastic or ceramic material forming one of a plurality of tiles, such as 2, of a tiled wall,

. to chamber 5 through 2,834,518 Patented May 13, I958 such as a bathroom, washroom or kitchen wall. Attached to the rear face of the tile is a rectangular box 3, preferably of transparent plastic material, such as Lucite, to form an enclosure for a liquid dispensing unit. Box 3 is a five-sided container which is slip-fitted onto a four sided unit 3a whose end is adhered to the back of the tile so as to form a detachable cover on unit 3a. Box 3 has a perimeter which is less than that of the tile 1 so that it maybe projected into the hollow space in the wall behind tile 1 when the latter is positioned flush with the remaining tiles 2.

The liquid dispensing unit comprises a liquid supply chamber 5 of cylindrical construction, preferably of transparent plastic material, such as Lucite, and having a hole at the .top thereof into which projects a tube 6 which dips into the liquid soap or perfume 7, supplied an inlet opening closed by plug 8 which may he slipped fitted or screw threaded to the opening. A nozzle 9, preferably of plastic material, is inserted through a hole in tile 1 and is connected to tube 6 as well as to tube 10 telescopically fitted to the end thereof.

Also mounted on the rear wall of tile 1 is a pressure cylinder 11 containing a piston 12 connected to a plunger 13 Whose stem projects through a hole in the tile. Plunger 13 is moved against the action of a helical spring 14. One end of spring 14 rests against piston 12 and the other, against cover 15 fastened to the cylinder by means of screw 16 or other suitable fastening means. The opposite end of cylinder 11 may be adhered or otherwise fastened directly to the rear face of tile 1 or to an end cover similar to cover 15 which is so attached.

In operation, as plunger 13 is pushed toward the wall and its stem through tile 1, piston 12 will compress the air within cylinder 11 and compressed air is expelled through tubes 10 and nozzle 9, thereby sucking air out of tube 6 and eventually sucking the liquid 7 through tube 6 and out through the nozzle 9 in the form of a spray. As plunger 13 is released spring 14 will return it to the position shown in Figure 4.

I prefer to make all the parts of the liquid supply system, such as cylinder 14 and tubes 10 and 6 out of transparent plastic material so that the condition and operation of the entire system will be readily visible.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an efiicient liquid dispensing unit for liquid soap and perfumes, which unit is combined with a tile so as to be easily and detachably inserted in the wall space behind a tile so that the unit is completely concealed; furthermore I have provided a liquid dispensing assembly which is extremely compact and inexpensive in construction and which may be easily taken apart or resupplied with liquid when necessary; furthermore I have provided a liquid dispenser system of transparent plastic material so as to reveal the function of the unit.

While I have illustrated and described a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that this is by way of illustration only, and that various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention and within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In combination with a tile, an outlet nozzle and plunger projecting through said tile, a container enclosing a supply of liquid in communication with said nozzle, a pressure cylinder having one end secured to the rear face of said tile and containing a piston and a helical spring References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lee Dec. 23, 1919 Kooperstein Sept. 7, 1926 Lissauer et a1 June 21, 1932 Steele June 7, 1955 

